The garden ecosystem mimics natural ecosystems in many ways, thus providing students, grade school children and adult visitors numerous opportunities to learn about fundamental biological and ecological processes and how we can manage the garden to be productive, attractive and environmentally sound.

Certain areas of the Ecological Garden are devoted to specific concepts such as culinary and medicinal herbs, vegetable and fruit prodution, seed saving, native xeriscape plantings, and butterfly/insectary plants. The Ecological Garden also is home to the Children's Garden program.